Incidence and Prognosis of Meniere's Disease: Retrospective Study of Vertigo Attacks and Hearing Impairment

• Published in: Equilibrium Research Vol. 53; no. Suppl-10; pp. 112 - 116
• Main Authors: Tokumasu, Koji, Fujino, Akito, Yoshio, Satoshi, Hosino, Isao, Yoneda, Satoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Society for Equilibrium Research 1994
• Subjects: conservative therapy; frequency of vertigo attacks; Meniere's disease; worst and best hearing levels
• ISSN: 0385-5716; 1882-577X
• DOI: 10.3757/jser.53.Suppl-10_112

The incidence of Meniere's disease was investigated in patients with vertigo or dizziness who visited Kitasato University Hospital from 1985 to 1991. Of a total of 3, 222, Meniere's disease was diagnosed in 251 patients (7.8%). The male female ration was 1 : 1.73. Seventy patients with Meniere's disease were classified into 5 groups, depending on the duration of the disease. Both ears were affected in 12 (17.1 %) of the 70, but in 4 (33.3%) of the 12 patients with more than 15 years of disease. Of the 70 patients 67 were treated conservatively, and 3 surgically. The frequency of vertigo attacks and the degree of hearing impairment during the past year in each group were compared. No vertigo attack was experienced in 13 (24.1 %) of the 70. In 49 patients the average number of vertigo attack was 4.5 in the past year. Adequate therapy is most desirable within one year after the onset of Meniere's disease, because the frequency of vertigo attacks and the hearing level can be best controlled when therapy is started less than one year after the onset.